Issue 47 JUNE - Flipbook - Page 8
informing the design. By improving access and enhancing
the visitor experience, the gallery’s world-renowned
collection is now open and inviting for all.
This led to further work at the gallery, including Gallery
B, a new 200m² exhibition space created from underused
back-of-house areas – the first new gallery addition since
the Sainsbury Wing opened in 1991. Following Gallery B,
the Julia and Hans Rausing Room — the largest and one
of the most visited rooms of The National Gallery —
reopened after a £3m 21 month refurbishment project led
by Purcell in 2020.
Roden Centre for creative learning
Built in 1975 and last refurbished in 2010, an overhaul of
the National Gallery’s learning centre was the first in the
suite of capital building projects to open to the public.
Working with London-based architecture practice
Lawson Ward Studio, Purcell overhauled the gallery’s
existing learning centre, creating a new, state-of-the-art
space designed to inspire and engage people of all ages.
Purcell’s deep knowledge of the National Gallery’s
buildings and culture has shaped every intervention. From
masterplanning to refurbishment, it has delivered lasting
value, helping the Gallery respond to the needs of today,
while safeguarding its legacy for tomorrow.
Lawson Ward Studio, supported by the National Gallery’s
learning team, engaged with children, young people, and
adults as part of the design process, resulting in a vivid
and inspiring place for both children and adults alike to
connect with the National Gallery’s world-renowned
collection.
An enduring relationship
Purcell’s approach blends intelligent design with careful
conservation, reimagining a wide range of spaces across
the site, always with respect for the building’s Grade I
listing and its historic setting in Trafalgar Square. A comprehensive masterplan in 2018 built on the decades-long
relationship of trust and collaboration with the gallery,
exploring the potential of the existing estate and capacity
for change.
Above, © Purcell. Masons from Cardozo Kindersley Workshop
carving Sainsbury Wing. Photo Richard Battye
Below, © The National Gallery, London. Photo Edmund Sumner, Sainsbury Wing Foyer looking south
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